Decisive Moment kicks away in Jean Lafitte

Decisive Moment was second-best shipping from Florida to Louisiana for the rich Delta Jackpot on Nov. 20, but second to none when back for another Delta try in the $250,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Friday night.

Racing on the lead under Kerwin Clark, Decisive Moment went a fast opening quarter-mile, 22.53 seconds, but then was able to slow considerably, passing the half-mile in 47.40 seconds. Su Casa G Casa and Expecting Cash were hot on his heels into the short Delta stretch, but Decisive Moment had plenty left for his late kick, spurting away to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Su Casa G Casa edged Expecting Cash for second, with pace-stalking Trubs and even third. The winner paid $4.40 as the favorite, and was timed in 1:38.91 for one mile on a fast track.

Decisive Moment is a Florida-bred son of With Distinction–Lady Samira bred and owned by Just for Fun Stables and trained by Juan Arias.

My Trusty Cat: Gran Lioness keys Calhoun sweep

Trainer Bret Calhoun raved this week about Gran Lioness’s morning training in recent weeks, and Gran Lioness ran like she’d been training earlier Friday night at Delta, winning the $200,000 My Trusty Cat Stakes by more than three lengths. It was an all Calhoun-trained exacta, with Grandacious second by more than five lengths over 41-1 Holy Heavens.

Flash Mash, the 4-5 favorite, tracked Gran Lioness in the early going, but backed up on the race’s second turn and faded to sixth.

Gran Lioness, a daughter of Lion Heart owned by Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, had won her career debut on the Ellis Park turf course and allowance race over dirt at Hoosier Park, but bumped into graded stake competition at Churchill Downs. She finished fourth in the Pocahontas and fifth in the Golden Rod. Calhoun gave Gran Lioness a breather after the Churchill meet, and the 3-year-old filly clearly benefited from the freshening.

With Jamie Theriot in the irons, Gran Lioness broke on top from the outside post in a nine-horse field and had cleared to make the lead before the race’s first turn. She set splits of 23.95 seconds for her first quarter-mile and 48.26 to the half, and was never threatened while drawing clear on the far turn. Gran Lioness paid $12.80 to win and was timed in 1:25.63 for seven furlongs around two turns.